THE HIMALAYAN TALK: INDIAN GOVERNMENT FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM RISKIER

http://youtu.be/NrcmNEjaN8c
The government of India has announced food security program ahead of elections in 2014. We discussed the issue with Palash Biswas in Kolkata today.
http://youtu.be/NrcmNEjaN8c
Ahead of Elections, India's Cabinet Approves Food Security Program
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By JIM YARDLEY
http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/indias-cabinet-passes-food-security-law/

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS CRITICAL OF BAMCEF LEADERSHIP

[Palash Biswas, one of the BAMCEF leaders and editors for Indian Express spoke to us from Kolkata today and criticized BAMCEF leadership in New Delhi, which according to him, is messing up with Nepalese indigenous peoples also.
He also flayed MP Jay Narayan Prasad Nishad, who recently offered a Puja in his New Delhi home for Narendra Modi's victory in 2014.]

THE HIMALAYAN DISASTER: TRANSNATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT MECHANISM A MUST

We talked with Palash Biswas, an editor for Indian Express in Kolkata today also. He urged that there must a transnational disaster management mechanism to avert such scale disaster in the Himalayas.
http://youtu.be/7IzWUpRECJM

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS BLASTS INDIANS THAT CLAIM BUDDHA WAS BORN IN INDIA

THE HIMALAYAN VOICE: PALASH BISWAS DISCUSSES RAM MANDIR

Published on 10 Apr 2013
Palash Biswas spoke to us from Kolkota and shared his views on Visho Hindu Parashid's programme from tomorrow ( April 11, 2013) to build Ram Mandir in disputed Ayodhya.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77cZuBunAGk

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALSH BISWAS FLAYS SOUTH ASIAN GOVERNM

Palash Biswas, lashed out those 1% people in the government in New Delhi for failure of delivery and creating hosts of problems everywhere in South Asia.
http://youtu.be/lD2_V7CB2Is

Palash Biswas on BAMCEF UNIFICATION!

THE HIMALAYAN TALK: PALASH BISWAS ON NEPALI SENTIMENT, GORKHALAND, KUMAON AND GARHWAL ETC.and BAMCEF UNIFICATION!
Published on Mar 19, 2013
The Himalayan Voice
Cambridge, Massachusetts
United States of America

FDI in multi-brand retail: Will 15-year journey end today?

FDI in multi-brand retail: Will 15-year journey end today?

The UPA's will to push through bold policy decisions will be put to test today when the cabinet takes up the contentious issue of allowing FDI in multibrand retail, with BJP and the Left opposing it vehemently.

But the move will bring in precious dollars at a time when the economy is slowing, food prices continue to gallop and the government is being accused of policy paralysis .

It has been a long, torturous journey, one that started when the United Front government led by H D Deve Gowda allowed 100% FDI in cash & carry wholesale trade in 1997. Some called it back-door entry for foreign players into India's retail sector. Nonetheless, it was a tentative baby step towards modernising retail business that led to allowing FDI of up to 51% in single brand retailing in January 2006.

Department of industrial policy and promotion moved a Cabinet note seeking an increase in the FDI cap. Earlier, it had proposed to increase the ceiling to 74%, but decided to adopt a more aggressive stand. It has argued that companies such as Ikea, which produces mass consumption products and accessories, and prominent luxury brands will set up stores if 100% FDI is permitted. Besides, it has made a case for the increase on the grounds that with full-control over the Indian venture, foreign retailers will have a sizeable presence in India and will be encouraged to source locally.

The Finance Ministry has has given its consent to the draft Cabinet note on opening the multi - brand retail to foreign investment.

Describing the move as against the interests of the country, BJP has threatened to launch nationwide agitations against the central government's move to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.

Party leader and Public Accounts Committee chairman Murli Manohar Joshi said it would harm country's small businesses.

The decision on FDI in the sector has been delayed in view of concerns that it would adversely impact neighbourhood kirana shops, which account for over 90 per cent of $590 billion retail trade.

Several global retailers like Wal-Mart and Tesco are waiting in the wings to entry into India's multi-brand retail segment..

The slowdown in big mall development would prompt a rejig in the expansion plans of global and desi lifestyle brands.

19 NOV, 2011, 12.43PM IST, REUTERS

World largest retailers like Wal-Mart to operate in India with a majority stake

NEW DELHI: India's cabinet may decide by next week to allow chains such as the world's largest retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc to operate in the country with a majority stake under strict local sourcing rules, a senior government source told Reuters.

A draft cabinet note suggesting so-called mult-brand retail foreign firms could hold up to 51 percent ownership has already been reviewed, a senior government source said on Friday.

"We have already sent it to the cabinet for their approval," the source said, adding that a decision could come next week.

Wholesale inflation in India has remained stubbornly high for more than a year and is now close to 10 percent despite 13 interest rate rises by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) since March last year.

Small shop owners that account for more than 90 percent of India's $450 billion retail sector oppose the entry of foreign players, fearing that they will be put out of business.

India currently allows 51 percent foreign investment in single-brand retailers and 100 percent for wholesale operations, a policy that Wal-Mart and Carrefour among others have lobbied to change for years.

Another government source said the finance ministry had thrown its weight behind a second proposal to raise the cap on single-brand retail to 100 percent from 51 percent.

The cabinet note also stipulated businesses would have to source at least 30 percent of manufactured and processed goods from local small industries, the Business Standard newspaper reported on Saturday.

It also said the minimum amount a foreign retailer would have to invest was $100 million, at least half of which would go to "back-end" logistics and storage infrastructure.

Those conditions are in line with those first agreed by a group of senior civil servants in July.

An executive of UK retail giant Tesco Plc told Reuters on Monday the company plans to build on its existing tie-up with India's Tata Group to expand if foreign operators are allowed to invest in multi-brand retail.

Full coverage

Business Standard - ‎13 hours ago‎

"If FDI in retail sector is allowed, small traders will lose their jobs, as their products or services will not be able to compete with foreign traders'. BJP will oppose such a move in and outside Parliament," Joshi said at a press meet here. ...

Business Today - ‎1 hour ago‎

"I challenge the government to prove that it benefits the farmers or the consumers," Joshi said, adding his party has planned to protest the move across the country and in Parliament. BJP opposes FDI in retail.

Hindu Business Line - ‎19 hours ago‎

PTI Opposing foreign direct investment in retail sector, senior BJP leader Mr Murli Manohar Joshi today said UPA government had no price policy to check the ever increasing inflation in the country. "We are opposed to FDI in retail market as it will ...

The Hindu - ‎13 hours ago‎

Public Accounts Committee Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday said the BJP would oppose any attempt to permit foreign direct investment in the retail sector. "It will impact the nation's economy. The Finance Minister has himself said the country ...

Hindustan Times - ‎13 hours ago‎

The BJP will launch a nationwide protest against the Centre's move to allow foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brandretail, said senior party leader and public accounts committee chairman Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday. will harm small businesses ...

Daily Pioneer - ‎14 hours ago‎

Senior BJP leader and Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday slammed the UPA Government at the Centre for its decision to open the multi-brand retail to foreign investment and announced that the BJP would ...

Economic Times - ‎20 hours ago‎

The issue is like this, he said, "there is no question whether the FDI comes or not... we are not saying anything about the investments. What we are saying is that the investments should come in a proper manner. We have checked up with those who have ...

Times of India - ‎1 hour ago‎

BHUBANESWAR: Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Saturday advocated a self-reliant development model for India instead of blindly following the western world of consumerism. "I have been saying this for the past 20 years that the western model of ...

I

Full coverage

India Infoline.com - ‎2 hours ago‎

CoS had also recommended that foreign investors have to invest at least $100 million to set up multi-brand retail operations in India. Further, the CoS suggested that FDI in retail should be allowed only in cities with population of at least one ...

IBNLive.com - ‎2 hours ago‎

The Union cabinet is expected to approve the note by the department of industrial policy and promotion (DIPP) on allowing 51 percent FDI in the retail sector. The Union finance ministry has cleared the proposal.He said the fears that foreign retail...

Economic Times - ‎59 minutes ago‎

The UPA's will to push through bold policy decisions will be put to test today when the cabinet takes up the contentious issue of allowing FDI in multibrand retail, with BJP and the Left opposing it vehemently. But the move will bring in precious ...

Bloomberg UTV - ‎27 minutes ago‎

"This (FDI in multi-brand retail) has been a positive move for the industry," Nikhil Chaturvedi, managing director, Provogue said in an interview with Bloomberg UTV. While customers can expect more choices from an array of retail chains that are likely ...

Livemint - ‎12 hours ago‎

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail is a politically contentious subject. While the economic case for FDIin multi-brand retail is clear, politicians are simply not interested in crafting a clear and coherent policy. ...

Financial Express - ‎14 hours ago‎

: Going by newspaper reports, UPA-2 is taking one more shot at economic reforms with allowing foreign investment in multi-brand retail once more on the cards, the Pension Bill has been cleared by the Cabinet, the new nuclear power rules go a long way ...